Colquitt Co. burglar manhunt continues

The search continues for three men who kicked in a Colquitt County homeowner's door and fired a shot at him as he chased them away.

Law enforcers from several agencies spent four hours searching for the men Thursday afternoon.

That homeowner said he's been a crime victim too many times and this was the last straw.

For nearly five hours, helicopters, bloodhounds and law officers scoured the area for the men, but came up empty. The whole thing started around 11:00AM at the home of Mike Hampton.

"He was actually at his mother's house and saw a vehicle driving back and forth acting real suspicious," said Investigator Shannon Hart of the Colquitt County Sheriff's Office.

There weren't any cars in his driveway so the coast looked to clear. But Hampton was just a few feet away watching their every move. "He had a back way to his driveway and he actually witnessed one of the black males kicking into the door of his home," said Hart.

Hampton declined to go on camera but showed us the damage done to his door. He says he's fed up with burglars and this would have made for the 6th time he had been robbed or burglarized. He says watching a stranger kick in his door was the last straw. He says he chased after the men going as fast as 80 miles per hour. He was on the phone with 911 and had his shotgun nearby but says it was loaded with bird shot.

One of the suspects stuck a gun out the window and fired a shot at him. That's when he backed off and law enforcement caught up to the men. Thankfully, he wasn't hit.

"We would suggest getting a tag number, but not to go chasing after them. Because these guys ended up shooting at him," Hart said.

Investigators think these suspects may be tied to a rash of daytime burglaries. "They come home and see the door has been kicked into their house and they are taking TVs electronics, items like that."

They ask that folks keep an eye out for these men who are considered dangerous. He says he's worked hard for his homes and belongings and he's not putting up with criminals taking advantage of him.

"He was doing what he thought was the right thing to do at the time, I just wish we could of gotten them."

The homeowner says the suspects were black men and all three had dreadlocks. If you have any information on the men, call the Colquitt or Tift County Sheriff's Office.